Cold Spaghetti

While in Mobile, Kate and I enjoyed treats that my parents brought back from Skip and Emily… including an incredibly thoughtful Mother’s Day card for me and birthday presents for Kate!
Emily and Skip found a selection of Wombat stories and a Wombat doll for Kate. This has significance: Wombat is Paul’s moniker, a name by which he is well-known personally… and, believe it or not, professionally. When he was co-opting in college, a “WOMBAT” was a “Waste Of Money Brains And Time” and Paul, plucky guy that he is, picked it up as his own. (Yes, I have been called “Mrs. Wombat.” What can I say? I married up.)

This was primarily a personal call sign until a few years ago, when his teams of co-workers became filled with other Pauls… everyone used nicknames. Paul became “Wombat.” This continued into his telecommuting roles, which is where things get interesting. Paul rarely goes into the DC-area office (once in 3 1/2 years) and is known as “Wombat.” He is also very good at what he does, creating a curious mystique about this super-smart guy called “Wombat” who no one has ever seen. I think this makes the perfect movie …

Scene: Computer lab in some dungenous CIA facility. Top secret agent Denzel Washington is leaning over a computer screen where his leggy co-star, a mid-level employee unwittingly pulled into the fiasco, types frantically.

Co-star: “I just can’t do it. This is stuff that I don’t understand and can’t access.”
Denzel: “We need more information! Isn’t there someone who can help us?”
Co-star: “Well…there is one guy… he’s a legend. I’ve never seen him, few people have. He’s so good that some say he doesn’t really exist, but I’m pretty sure I could find him.”
Denzel: “Who is he?”
Co-star: “I don’t know his real name. He’s called ‘Wombat’…”
Denzel: “Wombat???” (pauses) “Well, if you say he’s that good, we need him. Where do we find this ‘Wombat’ guy?”

Cut to sunny fly-over shot of Beautiful New Orleans and bright sounds of New Orleans Dixieland…!

This is what I see in my head when I think about Paul’s work. I picture stuffy CIA-officials that look like Denzel Washington trying to track down the mysterious ‘Wombat’ in the middle of a Mardi Gras parade. What can I say? The woman known as “Mrs. Wombat” has to get her excitement from somewhere.